Nick has spent most of his life engulfed in racing with his step father Dave racing most weekends in his Capri super rod , meant Nick grew up with it in his blood.
He began his own racing career in the budget formula of incarods with some success and lots of damage , he knows there is always rubbing !
Dave Poole was still racing his super rod at the same time in the slick cars and many meetings saw them both racing , with Dave also joining the incarods at stages too.
The thirst for something faster was eating away at Nick and the purchase of a Nova shelled 2 lt hot rod was no surprise . The car was knocked into shape and trials proved it needed a little more work . He is aided not only by Dave’s experience mechanically but also number 2 mechanic Bob who lends a hand both in the workshop and at the track side.
The Nova began to show form and Nick took his first win in the formula but was that enough !
No it wasn’t ! Nick came to me around June time last year declaring love ! For the want of a classic hot rod that was . We talked about what he wanted , Nick was hunting for something not quite the norm.
Following the national weekend Mike Oliver had just finished putting the Talbot back together with replacement parts that he crashed out in . It was the second time Mike had taken frontal damage in the car , the first in Ireland . This time it was a little heavier ,wrecking the newly fitted radiator ,damaging the wings and front panels.
Mike had success in the car on the shale at Mildenhall but wasn’t quite sure what to do next ?
Darren Owen mentioned to him Nick was looking for a car and after travelling to Aberystwyth on the second tripNick returned with the car .
The panels were all done but paint was needed and one or two extra bits , the car would need setting up and to be fair it was turned around quickly .
Brett Fiddler was on hand to sort the bodywork and give the car a smart new coat of paint. Brett himself a successful race driver now runs his own body shop and car repaint shop.
Sam Grey motor sport fabrications at Samspeed has also been a big help to Nick with the car and has sponsored the car.
Still running the ford zetec engine in the car has proved reasonable for Nick on his debut at Hednesford for the best in Britain where he ran from the back all day getting used to the car .
Nick declares that it is a new learning curve on the development of his race career . He is that committed that the 2lt hot rod was back out on new years day at Birmingham . 2019 could be a busy one race wise for the young man who also holds down a full-time job whilst studying for a degree .
The car is on display this weekend at the McGill Motorsports stand at the Autosports show Nec Birmingham.

Darren Anslow set out on a quest to join the classic hot rods , he wanted an iconic car that needed TLC . Scott hill a former banger driver had purchased from Shane Taylor the ex Nelly mk1 , he rebuilt it but never raced the car .
Darren struck a deal ! Took the mk1 back to his boudoir and began to do “his thang with it “
He rebuilt the roll cage , worked on the suspension to his way of racing and here she his the classic hot rod of 7 Darren Anslow .
Darren’s pedigree ? Ex economy car racer , super rods ,lightning rods and bangers . He has also help many people out with his fabrications .
He will make a great addition to the 2019 season , his nickname #stumpy

A mixed short season this year for Jamie , showing form on the Mildenhall shale only to get car issues a few laps later . Always cheerful though about is racing and prospects for the future, at which point he is in process of removing the faithful crossflow to replace with the modern Ztec .
I am sure with Jamie’s extensive knowledge and engineering experience the car will be spot on when ready to race. May 2019 be a better year.

Graham like fellow Scot John Mcfarlane gave up their rides for the early part of 2018 in order to bring fresh driver into the sport . The Scottish series has a result flourished with some great racing.
Sitting watching your old Talbot go out and take victory must on one hand be pleasing but frustrating on the other , for every driver at the end of the day just wants to race.
Graham debuted the new ride at the late summer Hednesford Hills meeting , the car caused quite a stir. Despite being finished immaculately with full x -pack and rear wing , it was deemed the wing should be removed ? But why and how? Surely the retro side should reflect cars of the day , after all Barry Lee sport rear wings on several cars .
However Graham removed it for the racing but late at a zero points meeting in Scotland was allowed to race with it on has a trial .
Graham has been a stalwart of the formula for some time now having built 2 mk2 Escorts , a chevette and the Talbot . He gives great support to fellow racers in Scotland and is always prepared to travel for racing , despite having a very busy business to run.
Lets hope the wing can stay because the car looks great with it on.

Not one of Dave’s better years , is the best to say . The change from Talbot to the ex Mick Dixon Ford 100e was thought to be a good choice , however despite a few good race starts Dave has yet to get the old girl on song.
Collateral damage at last years National championships when several car went in , including the music man 210 Weaver through the boot of the 100e . Dave got the car repaired and back on track to no avail.
A better day in the office at Best in Britain saw Dave lead heat 2 for most of the distance only to be passed on the last few laps when he got caught up in traffic.
No doubt the car will be tweaked and fully straightened ready for season 2019.

We await the official publication of fixtures , a provisional list was sent out to drivers . Some changes are that the National championship has been moved from Spedeweekend but remains at Ipswich on a later date.
The scheduled meeting will feature in March at Hednesford Raceway and there will be a visit to both Mildenhall and Northampton shale tracks.
With a few rebuilds underway and promises of new drivers and fresh cars we look forward to season 2019 .
ROD ON

A mixed season for Andrew with lots of running issues for the pocket rocket Austin A30 .
Andrew has attended most meetings but had just no luck what so ever , he was even amongst those who raced on shale for the first time.
Hopefully normal service will return for 2019 , although girlfriend Jessie-ray has a build in progress having tried the pocket rocket for size !!!ooh er Mrs.

Although cars have been a rather sparse at meetings in both Northern and Southern Ireland during the season 19 Anthony Morgan was the most consistent of the drivers .
His well prepared mk2 escort has taken many wins , which has given him the honour of being crowned Irish national points champion .
This side of the sea is a different matter he ran into a few issues at the nationals with a few non finishes and at the end of summer meeting at Hednesford went “Wallop straight in “ DG . Leaving the car needing suspension repairs.
His return for the Best in Britain was a lot more successful for him and we hope to see him back in 2019.